Description

On 30 January 2006, an Airbus AIRBUS A-319 (C-FKKR) being operated by Air Canada on a scheduled passenger flight from Las Vegas to Montréal as AC 596 commenced take off in normal night visibility on the shoulder of the runway instead of on the centreline before correcting at speed and completing the take off. ATC were not advised and the debris from three broken runway edge lights was not discovered. The first information aboutf the occurrence was sent to the Operator by ACARS two hours after take off. Minor NLG tyre damage was found after flight.

Investigation

The Investigation was delegated by the National Transportation Safety Board (USA) (NTSB) to the Canadian Transport Safety Board (TSB). The Operator removed and downloaded the aircraft DFDR and sent the data to the TSB. Relevant CVR data was overwritten.

It was noted that the Captain, who had been PF for the flight, had accumulated approximately 11,000 total flying hours which included about 3000 hours on A320 series aircraft split equally between time as Captain and time as Co-Pilot. The First Officer had accumulated a total of approximately 10,500 total flying hours which included about 1900 hours on the type variant involved.